If you have ever had reoccurring mechanical troubles with your automobile, you might have a lemon on your hands. Unfortunately, you are not on your own. There are scores of car owners that have had to acquaint themselves with the relevant lemon laws in their state. At the same time, they may be wondering, honestly, what is the need for lemon law anyway? The primary purpose of lemon laws is obviously to facilitate consumer protection while establishing the proper obligations of the consumer, the manufacturer, and also outlining what constitutes a proper claim. It is the purpose of this article to highlight each area underlying the general need for lemon law.

The main reason that lemon laws exist in the first place is to provide consumer protection. It is important because of the cost involved; for many people the price tag of the car is the second only to their home in overall expense during their lifetimes. When dealerships and manufacturers do not provide the consumer with proper or effective assistance in dealing with their vehicle’s obvious problems it becomes imperative to have the appropriate legal protection to obtain restitution or replacement.

Lemon laws provide a framework for addressing grievances with automotive defects that is consistent. The consumer is one component of this framework and is constrained by specific obligations to make the process work.

As it has been said already, the consumer has the greatest need for lemon law and thus has a part to play. During the process of establishing the status of the vehicle, the consumer should be conscientious about record keeping and retaining copies of paperwork related to repairs. Also, making sure that the manufacturer is kept informed of multiple instances of repairs can help to establish your case for refund or replacement. By taking the time to do this, you can be ready with evidence if the lemon law claims reach the court. By staying informed, the consumer is also in a position to know if their claim has any standing under relevant lemon laws.

It is the responsibility of the consumer or car owner to know what specific rules that determine what a lemon are in their state and what circumstances are needed to establish this claim. One that seems common is the need for the vehicle to have undergone at least three repair attempts and failed to meet operating standards before it can be considered a lemon and eligible for further action. Further distinctions may be involved depending upon the state since some states in the U.S. have other laws relating to lemon identification including warranty timetables, number of repair attempts, as well as the rating of the serious of the defect to determine what course needs to be taken. These factors then help to define what manufacturer obligations will actually entail.

The final point is regarding the role of manufacturers in the functioning of lemon law statutes. The main purpose of the laws is to hold manufacturers accountable for the products that they produce and ensure that they will be safe to use by consumers. Lemon laws not only protect consumers from negligent manufacturers but also those that do make an effort but simply miss a problem while not in the market. The laws oblige manufacturers and dealers alike to have an appropriate response to consumer claims. It should be clearer now what the need for lemon law represents for all parties involved. The greater purposes involved are consumer protection and manufacturer accountability. Lemon laws provide the rules and regulations that car owners need to deal effectively with automotive defects that have been classified as lemons.